Dear Colleagues, Advocates, and Friends of Our Field,

I am delighted to invite you to our 2007 AATOD Conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Marina in San Diego.

We are making every effort to continue our tradition of making this conference a first rate educational experience, an opportunity to advance our strategic agendas for the field and a chance to explore the joys of San Diego. We hope to elicit a wide range of proposals that represent the diversity of interests and activities in the field. The conference attracts clinicians, researchers, administrators and policy makers and our educational offerings are intended to engage those who fill various roles. In addition to research presentations, we welcome workshops on clinical, administrative, and policy issues that are best explored with plentiful audience interaction. The theme of implementing evidence-based practices also includes “practice-based evidence,” encouraging providers to make use of their own unique experiences to contribute to the knowledge base on principles and practices.

The conference is also a venue for moving forward on AATOD’s policy initiatives. You will receive updates on accomplishments and future tasks in formal sessions, and in conversations with your friends and colleagues. AATOD networks actively with the federal agencies and other organizations involved with substance abuse issues, often providing the catalyst for them to meet together to work out strategies for current problems. Many of the agency leaders attend our conference and may be available for several days. You will also hear about AATOD’s major initiative to bring and improve opioid treatment in the criminal justice system. This initiative, part of AATOD’s strategic plan for some time, has gathered momentum. There are sessions describing achievements and opportunities to discuss the continuing challenges. AATOD shares a concern with various federal agencies about the problem of prescription opioid abuse among patients in our system, and has a collaborative initiative to evaluate the impact on admissions to OTP’s. Finally, AATOD continues to promote training for treatment providers to address hepatitis C, which affects the majority of our patients. You are welcome to submit workshop proposals that address these issues, as well as others in your areas of interest and expertise.

San Diego is a wonderful place to hold a conference, particularly if you can arrange time before or after the meeting to visit and explore. The climate is temperate all year round, and there is little chance of rain in October. The hotel is spectacular. Located at the Marina, every view out the windows causes frustrations to fade. The host, California Organization of Opioid Maintenance Providers, and sponsors Aegis Medical System, Inc., Bay Area Addiction Research and Treatment and CRC Health Group are excited about your presence and have planned a variety of options to enrich your stay. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego.

Sincerely,

Joan E. Zweben, PhD
2007 Conference Chair

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